Disneyland’s statistics, which are readily available to the public, include facts and figures about the park’s number of visitors, its most popular rides and attractions, and, unfortunately, the number of accidents that have occurred. Individuals use this information when planning a trip or when deciding which of the five Disney resorts to visit.
Visiting Disneyland
If you are looking to visit Disneyland, statistics show the best time of year to attend is between January and Memorial Day, with the exception of Spring Break, which is usually around the middle or end of March. From Labor Day until Thanksgiving is also another good time of year to visit as well. Statistics also show that Tuesday through Thursday are the least busy days, and Saturdays are busier than Sundays. Forget long weekends such as Labor Day or Fourth of July when the park is about three times as busy as normal weekends.
Since it is usually sunny in Southern California, weather normally doesn’t play a factor in deciding when to attend. However, if rain is in the forecast, you can expect the park to be busier the days leading up to the inclement weather.
Disneyland Statistics: Attendance
According to the Themed Entertainment Association, roughly 14.7 million people visited Disneyland in 2008, second only to its sister theme park Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, which drew just over 17 million visitors. Comparatively, Disneyland’s reached the following record numbers in regards to attendance since it opened on July 17, 1955:
- September 8, 1955 – one million
- December 31, 1957 – 10 million
- April 19, 1961 – 25 million
- June 17, 1971 – 100 million
- January 8, 1981 – 200 million
- September 1, 1989 – 300 million
- July 5, 1997 – 400 million
- January 12, 2004 – 500 million
Ticket Prices
Just as attendance has increased over the years, so has ticket prices. Disneyland statistics show that from 1982 to 2009, there have been 21 adult ticket price hikes, some twice in one year. However, in those 27 years noted, there were no increases during 10 of those years.
When the park opened, visitors paid $1 to get into the park, but that did not include the price for rides and attractions, which cost roughly $2.50 every eight attractions. In 1982, when the park stopped charging separately, the price of an adult ticket was $12. In 2009, the price was $69.
Rides and Attractions
Some of the more interesting Disneyland statistics are about the park’s rides and attractions. For instance, the most popular rides at Disneyland, which also have the longest lines and offer FastPass, are:
- Autopia
- Haunted Mansion
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Star Tours
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The rides with the shortest lines are:
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Casey Jr. CIrcus Train
- Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tarzan’s Treehouse
Original 1955 rides still in operation at Disneyland in 2009 are:
- Autopia
- Disneyland Railroad
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Mad Tea Party
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Road
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Snow White’s Scary Adventures
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Jungle Cruise
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Accidents at Disneyland: Statistics
From 1955 to 2006, there have been more than 100 accidents, resulting in 13 deaths from incidents occurring at Disneyland. The California Department of Safety and Health stated that the theme park was liable for some of the accidents, however, the majority of them were due to ride negligence. Incidents include:
- September 2003: A 22-year-old California man died after Big Thunder Railroad derailed; 11 others were injured. Improper maintenance and lack of employee training was the cause.
- In 1964, a teenager from California died from injuries he received after he stood up and fell out of cars on the Matterhorn Bobsleds. In 1984, a woman died after being thrown from one of the bobsleds.
- In 1966, a teenager was killed after trying to sneak into Disneyland’s Grad Night by climbing onto the Monorail track.
- In September 2000, a 4-year-old boy fell out of Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and suffered major brain injuries. He never recovered from his injuries and died in 2009.
- In 2001, 29 people were injured when a 40-year-old tree fell over in Frontierland.
Annual Pass Holder
It doesn’t matter if you are an annual pass holder or are planning your first family vacation to Disneyland, statistics about the park can be very helpful in determining when you should go, how much to spend and what attractions to ride. They will not only help you have a better time, but in some instances, a safer one too. Additional Disneyland statistics can be found at The Disneyland Linkage and Beach California.
